Today's smartphones let you surf the Web on the goand not just WAP sites, either. With the right handset and browser software (and a little patience for the small screen and tiny pixels), you can surf all manner of desktop-level sites, without having to carry a laptop or find a nearby desktop PC.

There have been numerous advances on the mobile browser front, particularly from third-party vendors like Opera Software, Bitstream, and Skyfire Labs, as well as handset vendors like Apple and HTC. Unfortunately, not every device comes with a good browser out of the box. Plus, some handsets have more upgrade options than others. That means the aforementioned, stellar third-party efforts can reach only certain customers in each case.

Periodically we examine the best options out there, both for readers who already have a handset and for those who are looking to buy their next one. This time around there's much more available than when we last looked at the market in late 2007. My list of suggestions comes in two parts: one for those looking to upgrade their software browser and one for those who are shopping for a new handset and want the best mobile browsing experience possible.

Free
Skyfire scored with its first full-release candidate, which displays Flash, Silverlight, and AJAX content that the iPhone trips over and leaves blank. Navigation is a bit sluggish due to the emphasis on accurate page rendering through Skyfire's server-side compression algorithms, rather than pure speed (as per Opera Mini). But Windows Mobile fans struggling with IE Mobile should head straight for Skyfire Labsand it also works on Symbian-powered Nokia E-series and N-series smartphones as well.

Free
BlackBerrys can run Java apps out of the box. While newer models already come with a halfway-decent browser, the Java capability means that today's Curves, Pearls, and 8800s are prime candidates for Opera Mini 4.2. The latest version supports RSS feeds and is a cinch to navigate, though it lacks Skyfire's AJAX, Flash, and Silverlight compatibility.

Rating: N/AFree
Bitstream's BOLT browser eschews the last ounce of page accuracy by replacing Web fonts with its own. This means that many sites that are usually off-limits on a cell phone come through crisp and clear. It's a great option for BlackBerrys, though as I found in my review, some models (like the Curve 8330) have a bug that greatly slows down the experience.

$99 (with two-year contract)
The iPhone revolutionized mobile browsing, since its Safari browser was the first that could display common desktop Web sites on a popular smartphone without choking. The 3.5-inch touch LCD and 320-by-480-pixel resolution are nice luxuries to have, too. And nothing beats Apple's two-finger zoom capability.

$149 (with two-year contract and after instant discount)
Google's 1.0 Android phone is being upgraded with a new version of the OS, Android 1.5, which offers numerous improvements. But one thing that's been right from the start is its Web browser, which does a good job of rendering desktop sites. The T-Mobile G1's high-resolution, capacitive touch screen makes navigation a snap.

$199.99 (with two-year contract and after mail-in rebate) $549.99 (no-contract price)
Palm's revolutionary webOS-powered smartphone makes up for years of dilly-dallying by the storied creator of the Palm Pilot and Treo. As we reported in our review, the Pre's Web browser is excellent. And the Pre lets you keep other tasks running in the backgroundunlike the iPhone, which forces you to quit other apps before browsing the Web.

$299.99 (with two-year contract and after mail-in rebate)$499.99 (no-contract price)
HTC's lineup of TouchFLO-enhanced Windows Mobile handsets have their flaws, mainly related to speed and UI complexity. But all of the latest models have ultrasharp VGA (480-by-640-pixel) touch screens, which are perfect for browsing the Web on the go. In most cases, they already come with Opera Mobile, which is a powerful browser. But you can also install Skyfire 1.0 and get a full AJAX- and Flash-powered experienceor switch between the two browsers, depending on which one works better with a given site.

Jamie Lendino is the managing editor for consumer electronics and mobile at PCMag.com and has written for the site and print magazine since 2005. Previously, Jamie was the Editor In Chief of Smart Device Central, PCMag's dedicated smartphone site, for its entire three-year run from 2006 to 2009. Before PCMag, he was a contributing editor for Laptop and mediabistro.com. His writing has also appeared in the print editions of Popular Science, Electronic Musician, and Sound and Vision, as well as on CNET and ConsumerReports.org.
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